Journal

Azores-N. Europe Leg: Night 4

High pressure systems continue to dominate our Atlantic crossing. The sailing has actually been quite good as long as still counts if we are motor sailing. Been keeping one engine going, with full sails up, through calm, sometimes glassy waters. Winds continue to be light, variable, and still somewhat on the nose or close hulled. Luckily before we settled on sailing around the globe, we were going to do it in a trawler, so I guess we get the best of both worlds here. The best being that with one engine going at all times, there is always scalding hot water to burn the crap out of you while showering. We finally caught a fish today – as wrangled in the photo with Gordon. I guess though, the accurate statement would be that the fish caught us. This was probably the biggest flying fish I’ve ever seen. I’m pretty sure they were selling these at the Continente market back in the Azores. Can’t be sure as my Portuguese is a bit lacking in skills.

Regardless, we decided to send it back to sea, as dinner tonight was beef stroganoff and the final serving fresh broccoli. After three days in a row of that fine cruciferous veggie, the boys were beginning to get testy. Ahab encouraged them to “get a little closer to shore” before launching any attempted mutiny. The swabbies were quickly pacified upon the sight of three small Organic Horizon Chocolate milks that I produced. Always good politics to keep the crew at ease with hidden gems like these. (Hey – that rhymed, I mean it, anybody wanna peanut?)
Moving on… Clearly not much going on out here. Looks like with the additional motoring, we will most likely make a refueling pit stop along the southern UK coast. The plan is to take a quick side trip into Jolly Olde London for Russian visas and good Indian food. Why does it always circle back to food? In the meantime, we will continue to motor sail and drag our fishing lines behind the boat in hopes that there is something out there that might be interested in becoming our lunch.

Ali, thank you so much for taking the time to write your blog/Journal. You are having an adventure that I would love to take with my family but for many reasons we never will. I have to satisfy myself with a week every now and then chartering in the BVI. That’s ok for us. However, by your writing, I get to do what I can’t and I thank you for that. Please keep journaling.

Re visiting London, it would probably be a lot easier to go by train up to London from (eg) Southampton or Portsmouth, rather than taking the boat there.
And try to allow some time for visiting a few ports along the south coast of England along the way – Dartmouth is one of many lovely wee places to visit.